Shares Fall on Profit-Taking

Updated Feb. 3, 1999 1:13 p.m. ET

FRANKFURT -- Shares declined Wednesday as profit-taking hit banks, telecommunications and other sectors that have recently racked up gains.

The Xetra DAX index, which tracks the top 30 blue chips, closed with a decline of 74.88 points, or 1.5%, to 5090.07. Frankfurt's DAX index of official floor trading ended with a loss of 81.21 points, or 1.6%,...